Disable Truncation In 1D Sensitivity Analysis: A Detailed Guide

In this article, we will delve into the process of disabling the truncation strategy within 1D sensitivity analysis. Our primary objective is to ensure that the complete range, as determined by effective calculation boundaries, is always displayed, enhancing clarity and preventing potential confusion between displayed and actual ranges. This guide will walk you through the technical context, a detailed plan for implementation, and step-by-step instructions to achieve this goal.

Understanding the Objective: Displaying the Full Effective Range

The main objective is to eliminate the truncation strategy, which is currently in place to improve the readability of 1D sensitivity analysis charts. By removing this feature, the full effective range will always be visible. It is crucial to display the complete range to avoid any misunderstanding between what is displayed and the actual range of the analysis. The aim is to provide a more transparent and accurate representation of the data, even if it means the graph might appear slightly less readable due to the expanded scale.

The Importance of Showing the Complete Range

When performing sensitivity analysis, it is vital to have a clear understanding of the entire range of possible outcomes. Truncating the range for visual clarity can sometimes hide critical information, leading to incorrect interpretations or decisions. By displaying the full effective range, analysts can gain a more comprehensive view of the data, identify potential outliers, and make more informed judgments. This approach ensures that all relevant data points are visible, which is particularly important when dealing with complex systems or critical parameters. For instance, in engineering simulations, understanding the full range of sensitivity can help in identifying potential failure points or areas where the system is most vulnerable.

Addressing the Challenges of Readability

While displaying the complete range is essential for accuracy, it can sometimes compromise the readability of the graph. When the range is very wide, small variations in the data might be less noticeable, and the overall graph can appear cluttered. To mitigate this, we need to balance the need for a full range display with the need for a clear and interpretable visualization. This might involve using interactive features like zooming and panning or providing additional tools to highlight specific areas of interest. The goal is to ensure that the data is both fully represented and easily understandable. Effective communication of data is crucial for making informed decisions, and this requires a thoughtful approach to data visualization.

Technical Context: Navigating the Existing Codebase

Before diving into the implementation, it's essential to understand the technical context of the existing code. This involves identifying the relevant files and functions, understanding the current architecture, and pinpointing the dependencies that need to be considered. A thorough analysis of the codebase will lay the groundwork for a smooth and efficient implementation process. The primary file of interest is js/ui/sensitivity-analysis-1d.js, which contains the logic for handling 1D sensitivity analysis. Within this file, several functions play critical roles in the truncation strategy.

Key Functions and Their Roles

1. analyzeTruncationNeed: This function (previously located around lines 783-875) was responsible for determining whether the range should be truncated for readability. It analyzed the data and made a decision based on certain criteria. Our goal is to disable this function so that it always returns false for shouldTruncate. This will ensure that no truncation occurs.

2. drawTornadoChart: This function (previously located around lines 877-975) is responsible for drawing the tornado chart, which is a visual representation of the sensitivity analysis. It applies the truncation determined by analyzeTruncationNeed and displays a badge if truncation occurs. We need to modify this function to remove the truncation logic and the associated badge display.

3. drawColoredBar: This function (previously located around lines 977-1152) draws the colored bars in the tornado chart. It recalculates values at the truncated bounds. We need to simplify this function by removing the recalculation logic and using the original values instead. Understanding how these functions interact is crucial for making targeted modifications. By carefully examining each function, we can ensure that our changes have the desired effect without introducing unintended side effects. Proper documentation and code comments are essential for maintaining a clear understanding of the codebase.

Current Architecture and Data Flow

The existing architecture involves a data flow where detectEffectiveRange first determines the effective range of the analysis, considering any physical limits. Then, analyzeTruncationNeed further reduces this range for readability purposes. Finally, drawTornadoChart applies this truncation and displays the chart. Our task is to remove the analyzeTruncationNeed step, ensuring that the chart always displays the full effective range determined by detectEffectiveRange. This means that the range displayed will only be limited by physical constraints, not by any arbitrary readability criteria. This change will provide a more accurate representation of the sensitivity analysis results. Data integrity is paramount, and ensuring that the full range is displayed contributes to this goal.

Implementation Plan: A Step-by-Step Approach

The implementation will follow a Test-Driven Development (TDD) approach, which means we will write tests before writing the code. This ensures that our changes are effective and do not introduce regressions. The implementation plan is divided into three phases: testing, implementation, and validation. Each phase has specific tasks and criteria for completion. Following a structured plan helps in managing complexity and ensures that the project stays on track. Effective planning is a key factor in successful software development.

Phase 1: Writing Tests (TDD)

The first phase involves creating test cases that verify the correct behavior of the code after the truncation strategy is disabled. These tests will serve as a benchmark to ensure that our changes are working as expected. The tests should cover various scenarios, including cases where the old logic would have truncated the range and cases where the range is already limited by physical constraints. This comprehensive testing strategy will help in identifying and fixing any potential issues early in the development process. Test-Driven Development promotes a robust and reliable codebase.

Test Files and Cases

We will create a new test file named tests/test_sensitivity_1d_no_truncation.js to house the tests specific to disabling the truncation strategy. This file will contain the following test cases:

1. Test 1: analyzeTruncationNeed always returns shouldTruncate: false: This test will create a configuration where the old logic would have truncated the range and verify that analyzeTruncationNeed now returns shouldTruncate: false. It will also check that newMin and newMax are equal to the original paramDef.min and paramDef.max.

2. Test 2: Graph range equals full effective range: This test will generate 1D sensitivity analysis for several configurations and verify that the graph boundaries correspond to paramDef.min/max. It will also ensure that the range is never reduced compared to detectEffectiveRange.

3. Test 3: Truncation badge never displayed, effective range badge only if applicable: This test will cover two scenarios. First, it will use a configuration without physical limitations (where all calculations converge) and verify that no